Why is quartz glass the most suitable material for processing laboratory glassware？
The common glassware in laboratories, including beakers, test tubes, flasks, evaporating dishes, and glass funnels, are mostly made of quartz glass as raw materials. Quartz glassware is the most common and widely used equipment in the laboratory. Generally, laboratory equipment is the product of heat processing of quartz glass. The highest temperature of the hydrogen-oxygen flame is 2000°C, which is just above the softening point of quartz glass. If it were sapphire glass, it would be impossible to process it at this temperature. This is why quartz glass is the best material for producing laboratory vessels. At the same time, the following main characteristics of quartz glass also determine that it is the best material for laboratory equipment.
High temperature resistance
The softening point temperature of quartz glass is about 1730 ° C. Quartz glass can be used for a long time at 1100 ° C, and the maximum temperature for short time use can reach 1450 ° C.
Good corrosion resistance
With the exception of hydrofluoric acid, quartz glass has almost no chemical reaction with other acids. Its acid resistance is 30 times that of ceramics and 150 times that of stainless steel, and in particular its chemical stability at high temperatures is unmatched by any other engineering material.
Good thermal stability
The thermal expansion coefficient of quartz glass is extremely small, and it can withstand severe temperature changes from 1100°C to room temperature.
Good light transmission
Quartz glass has good light transmission in the entire spectral band from ultraviolet to infrared, and the visible light transmittance is above 95%. Especially in the ultraviolet spectral band, the transmittance can reach more than 80%
Good electrical insulation
The resistance value of quartz glass is equivalent to 10,000 times that of ordinary glass. It is an excellent electrical insulation material and has good insulation properties even at high temperatures.
Because of its excellent physical and chemical properties, quartz glass is widely used in various fields such as electric light source, semiconductor, optical communication, military, metallurgy, building materials, chemistry, machinery, electric power, environmental protection, etc..
